Hi guys,
Welcome to my second review of my trains.. It will be the RE 420 locomotive by HAG.

First impression:
The locomotive is well crafted even though it is in HO scale which is a plus. They added many bonus details that Marklin tried to miss on . Examples include the closed cab mirrors located on both side of the train doors which makes it look realistic. Another extra feature is that HAG added the air-conditioning detail onto the locomotive as well as in real life, this locomotive is air-conditioned! Of course, the thing worth mentioning is that HAG installed a loco driving figure which is a nice touch and I can't understand why Marklin don't want to install the figures in some of their models!
Performance:
The locomotive runs great but the couplers are not the universal type you usually find on any other manufacturers, it is the type where can just simply hook it on. As for the sound feature, it 's quite loud to be honest and it sounds great! Even though it comes with a small speaker, it 's still audible enough for you to hear unlike the Marklin TGV of course which is a big screw-up for the sound feature.
Price:
Yes.It 's worth it. The details are just mind-blowing and can easily be on par with the brass models in HO available in the market these days. The RE 420 is a good runner. It 's a platted in metal. Yes! No plastic at all. And of course , they only negative part I would say about this model is that its having a hard time to pull 7 of my HAG freight cars which can be noticed by seeing the speed being decreased compared to the normal strong force speed.
The functions on the train.. About 15 functions in total!
F0 Lights F9 Station annoucement ( Intercity)
F1 Locomotive operating sound F10 Coupling engaging sound
F2 locomotive whistle F11 Passenger wagon(Door closing sound)
F3 locomotive whistle(shorter version) F12 Acceleration sound
F4 Exhaust F13 Squealing brakes sound
F5 Pantograph sound F14 Station annoucement (Eurocity) (Italian and German)
F6 Squealing of brakes off
F7 Pantograph sound
F8 Station annoucement (Dulliken)

Ok.. Let 's stop talking... Here are the photos showing the locomotive!





And here 's the video clip showing the train running..


Hope you enjoy the review!
Cheers
Chan!

Edited by user 11 March 2011 05:26:13(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Love the way that HAG always have a Lokführer - how else would our Lokmodelle be fully under operational control

I'm more than slightly disappointed that Marklin don't follow suit. One day I must look for a suitable after-market option (or simply buy some HAG spares !!!)

The simple hook coupling has the advantage of being much less intrusive at the front of a train. However, as it goes into a standard box, it is no trouble to replace with a coupling of your choice. What I have done with my Hag locos is to replace the hook at one end only, so that it is possible to run double headed and on occasion triple headed though that did to strain the controller which showed a tendency to cut out.
Even pulling with the simple hook, I have never had a problem of the loco parting from the train and my layout is very up and down with changes of gradient.

Bob M.